Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Chicago

"The Chicago Diner offers an atmosphere as American as mini-malls by decorating the place with vintage ads and neon lights and serving up heaping helpings of comfort food, but without the meat. “Instead of burgers, we have veggie burgers,” “instead of french fries we serve home fries.” They also offer vegan milkshakes, a Radical Reuben with homemade seitan in place of corned beef, biscuits & vegetarian gravy, and Chick’n Fingers for the kids. And guys, you really need to try their vegan milkshakes, not only are they delicious, but they are vegan, and some even Gluten Free!"

"Ask any vegetarian or vegan in the city of their top restaurant choices and it’s likely Chicago Diner will be one of the first names on their lips. Whilst a motto boasts that The Chicago Diner has been “Meat free since ’83” its reputation is such that The Chicago Diner is loved by meat-eaters and vegans all over the city. A large menu offers anything ranging from pancakes to black bean veggie burgers but it’s what they can do with seitan and tofu that will really blow your mind, and your taste buds."

"All options at The Chicago Diner are meat-free|© Chicago Diner. The slogan at this diner – “Meat Free Since ’83” – certainly rings true. Everything on the large menu is vegetarian and vegan or can be made vegan."

"Most dishes at Handlebar can be vegan upon request|© Handlebar. Veg lovers flock to this Wicker Park hipster haven for comfort food with a vegetarian twist. Most guests come for the fried avocado tacos, jammed with cabbage slaw, tomatoes, refried beans and house-made ranch, but there’s a bevy of other vegetarian dishes, too, such as a pepita scramble flanked by sweet potatoes, veggie chili mac and cheese, and biscuits and gravy slathered in seitan sausage gravy."

"Although we stopped by for lunch, this seems like a great place to head to for dinner and drinks. This vegetarian restaurant has plenty of vegan options. The lighting is incredibly dark and tables small, so it’s got a very cozy vibe and would be great for a date night."

"This neighborhood staple is known for offering late-night vegetarian fare. Veggie sloppy joes and buffalo chicken seitan wraps aren't something you want to miss."

"Urban Vegan Chicago is a vegetarian and vegan eatery that serves authentic Asian and Thai fare with an international twist. The menu features vegetarian meat alternatives that are healthy and tasty, prepared with the highest quality meat-free and organic ingredients and products, and created from original recipes from every corner of the vegan lifestyle. Signature and favorite dishes on the menu include cashew nut stir-fry, spicy eggplant with sweet basil, Pad Thai rice stick noodles with bean sprouts, red and green Thai curry, lentil loaf packed with a variety of vegetables and spices, and spicy noodles."

"Restaurants Vegan Lake View. Vegans and vegetarians who love Thai food can breathe a sigh of relief. This may look like every other neighborhood joint, but there is no fish sauce hiding in the peanut satay nor egg wash coating the spring rolls: Everything on the menu is 100 percent vegan."

"For fast and friendly service, dine-in or carry-out, check out Urban Vegan. The menu has loads of Thai and Asian dishes. Try the soy chicken nuggets, spicy tofu, Pad See Ew, spicy glass noodles, pumpkin eggplant and more."

"Bill Kim is best known for his modern interpretations of ramen, dumplings, and Latin-Asian fusion, but one menu item equally worthy of adoration is his soft-serve ice cream. The dessert has been a fixture at Belly Shack since day one, but my favorite version is the PB&J soft-serve at Urban Belly. The velvety, slightly sweet soft-serve is heaped into a tall cup striated with ample doses of crunchy peanut butter and huckleberry jelly."

"It’s fun to eat with your hands as a kid, which makes dumplings a great choice. For a fun mashup, Urbanbelly’s kids’ menu has a cheeseburger dumpling, but there are also more adventurous options like pork-cilantro or chicken curry fillings. Kids can also snack on edamame, slurp noodle soup or practice their chopsticks skills with a rice bowl."

"Located in Avondale (and hence, a bit out of the way for those traveling without a car), Urban Belly offers a small number of seats in a surprisingly chic space. The most expensive noodle dishes – ramen with pork belly and udon with shrimp – are $13. Dumpling and rice plates like lamb and brandy or short rib and scallion are $7-8 each."

"With storefronts in Naperville, Niles, and Schaumburg, this fast-casual global chain has brought vegetarian Indian street food, all made from scratch daily, to the Chicago area. Uttapam (rice-lentil pancakes), Dosas (thin and crispy rice-lentil crepes filled with savory fillings), and toasted sandwiches with cheese, chutney, and veggies are all on the greatest hits list. Hours vary, closed Tuesdays."

"Ground Control is an eclectic vegetarian and vegan restaurant serving a no-frills menu with a range of non-meat cuisine from Asian to Mexican in a casual, unpretentious space. The creative menu features appetizers like tofu wings, fried green tomatoes, and curried fritters, freshly prepared salads, and entrées of stewed seitan or sweet potato tacos, southern fried tofu Asian barbecue, and torta ahogada. A selection of organic wines and beers accompany the delicious food, as well as a range of sides and extras."

"It lacks the popularity of Chicago’s other famed foods but the jibarito certainly deserves attention. Though the Puerto Rican sandwich is traditionally made with steak, vegetarians can get a non-meat variant at this Logan Square spot. Here, housemade seitan is topped with poblano, onion, garlic, greens, tomato, garlic mayo, and American cheese in between slices of fried plantain."

"Looking for an eclectic and environmentally conscious brunch spot?. Look no further than Ground Control!. Saturdays and Sundays, their doors open at 11 a.m."

"Tea is a popular choice that’s said to offer healthy options. Enter your address to see if they offer delivery to your address."

"Don't expect to find pumpkin-spice anything at this tiny but specialized coffee shop in Logan Square. Branching off from its roastery in Back of the Yards (and another in Istanbul), Four Letter Word Coffee offers drip, pour-over, espresso, Turkish-style, cold coffee and tea. Pair your cup o' Joe with a pastry from Cellar Door Provisions and have a seat in the exquisitely decorated space."

"The extra-light macarons served at Pierrot Gourmet can only be described as very moreish. The European-style bakery and cafe found on East Superior Street inside the Peninsula Hotel, which also boasts a terrace eatery, just like theseother great bars and restaurants with rooftops in Chicago. Pierrot Gourmet is home to a range of fabulous baked goods, including macarons, which are said to pair perfectly with a specialty coffee or a glass of wine."

"Fancy and intricate French dishes are always a pleasure but sometimes all you need is a cup of coffee, a croissant, and prime views. This all-day café inside the Peninsula offers a casual setting that’s ripe for people-watching in the heart of downtown. Though the menu includes items like tarte flambée, boeuf bourguignon, and duck cassoulet, the restaurant’s bakery is its biggest standout."

"It’s part of the Chicago Peninsula hotel and offers authentic Parisian vibes. They have both indoor seating as well as an outdoor patio, adorned with flowers, located in a prime people watching spot in the city. It is incredibly charming."

"Cupitol is an all-day eatery located in Streeterville and Evanston that serves just what you crave after the sun rises. Choose various breakfast sandwiches and protein breakfasts like housemade corned beef hash poached eggs; a deliciously sloppy country Benedict with buttermilk biscuits, pork sausage gravy, eggs; and a European Breakfast with the thickest Greek yogurt you've ever witnessed, sprinkled with homemade almond granola, berries and local raw honey. Pancakes and Belgian waffles are made with a proprietary mix."

"Installation view, Duro Olowu: Seeing Chicago, MCA Chicago Feb 29-May 10, 2020 Photo: Nathan Keay, © MCA Chicago. The Museum of Contemporary Art is always free for visitors under age 18, visitors with disabilities and their caregivers receive free admission, members of the military and police and fire departments and veterans, and Illinois elementary and high school teachers. To encourage more people to visit and visit often, the MCA has a pay-what-you-can policy — no one will be turned away."